‘What a proud moment’: Hairy Bikers’ star Dave Myers honoured with posthumous award

Months after his passing, beloved Hairy Bikers’ star Dave Myers continues to be celebrated for his remarkable achievements and the incredible life he led.

The charismatic half of the beloved Hairy Bikers duo, passed away on February 28, 2024, after a battle with cancer.

The news of his death sent shockwaves through the entertainment and culinary communities, leaving fans mourning the loss of a beloved figure.

Now in a testament to how much Myers was beloved by the public, he was recently awarded the prestigious Freedom of the Town by the Barrow-in-Furness town council in his home town during an “absolutely amazing” and “emotional” ceremony.

Deputy Mayor Fred Chatfield said Myers was deserving of the award given “the amount of work he had done within the town and the fact he cared about it.”

“We felt it was appropriate to do that for him, for Lili,” Chatfield added, as per The Mirror.

“It was an absolutely amazing day. The people of Barrow were absolutely amazing – words don’t do it justice. The whole day was emotional because it was celebrating a Barrow lad who sadly passed away too early.”

Myers’ widow, Liliana who received the award on her late husband’s behalf said it was a “huge honour”.

“I feel this is such a huge honour… what a proud moment,” she told BBC Radio Cumbria.

Born September 8, 1957, Myers initially pursued a career as a professional makeup artist specialising in prosthetics. Fate, however, took a fortuitous turn for him when, during the filming of The Gambling Man in 1995, he met Si King, marking the beginning of a collaboration that would propel both into the limelight.

Myers and King gained fame as the dynamic duo on the BBC’s The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook, blending cooking and travelogue. Riding various motorbikes, their shows featured banter, unconventional cooking locations, and a Two Fat Ladies-inspired format.

The duo’s culinary adventures expanded with series like The Hairy Bikers’ Food Tour of Britain, The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know Best, and The Hairy Bikers’ Cook Off. They ventured into theatres with the Big Night Out show, directed by Bob Mortimer, blending cooking, chat, and entertainment.

Further series, such as Meals on Wheels and Hairy Bikers: Best of British, showcased their dedication to British recipes and local produce. Renewing their BBC contracts in 2011, they embarked on The Hairy Biker’s Bakeation, a gastronomic road trip across Europe, and The Hairy Biker’s Mississippi Adventure, exploring food and music along the iconic Mississippi River.

Their lifestyle took centre stage in Hairy Dieters: How to Love Food and Lose Weight, documenting their journey to shed weight while savouring great food. The duo’s globe-trotting continued with The Hairy Bikers’ Asian Adventure in 2014.